I'm not sure if anyone needs more proof that Fox News is relishing the tongue lashing that the White House is dishing out, but the Los Angeles Times is reporting that the number of average views for the channel is way up since the squabble began. Is this more proof that the Administration's attacks are backfiring?

From the L.A. Times:

This year, Fox News has averaged nearly 1.2 million viewers across all its programming, a 16% increase over the same period last year, according to Nielsen. In the two weeks since aides to President Obama took after the coverage, the audience has been 8% larger than the previous two weeks.

This is great news for the First Amendment, in my opinion. Imagine if the Executive Branch had the power to squash any form of news they did not like. It would be the end of the freedom of speech and press as we know it. It also shows that the Administration cannot always shape reality to its will.

The article continues:

Glenn Beck, the network's newest star, gleefully unveiled a red telephone on his set, saying it was a special line for the White House to use to correct any mistakes he makes. Sean Hannity proudly labeled his program "Not White House approved." And Bill O'Reilly repeatedly hammered the White House in his nightly editorial.

"There is something very disturbing about the Obama administration fighting harder against Fox News than against the Taliban," he said last week.

Just because Fox News ratings are up is no reason for the Obama Administration to let Fox News get away with disparaging thier agenda. It may be that the more people watch the Fox News Spectacle, more people will get turned off!

The Agents of Darkness are at it again. There are a certain group of Republicans who can do anything and say anything to hold onto their Grasp of Power for themselves and only themselves. When someone speaks truth to power, they cry Foul! Pres. Obama has a duty and obligation to the public to clarify lies and misconceptions about his polices for the American public. Not to allow Fox an interview, though is a mistake.

Angellightq......Obama won the presidency by saying words that were lovely and empty on purpose. Empty because when meat was put to the bones he knew that most Americans would be appalled at the scope and depth of what "fundamentally change America" really would be. Now with the help of Fox the public is pushing back. How do I know, fox viewers are not just watching fox to be titillated, few Americans have the time for such trivia. Americans are pushing back big time. The "tea parties" are just as real as Fox viewership, BIG!

The problem is that Obama has been shown to contradict himself when pressed on issues he didn't think anyone but his cronies and backers would ever hear.

The man believes in socialist ideals and the death of our constitution as it currently stands. Every time he tries to "clarify" his statements it backfires on him. Things like "I do not support a single payer system" followed on Fox News or Fox Commentators with video or audio of him at an SEIU meeting or in an old interview saying "I fully support a single payer system, everyone in, no one out"

There are numerous examples. Thus Fox News catches him in his lies or ommisions and he can't stand it any longer.

Obama has 95%+ of the media singing his praises. The Wall Street Journal and FoxNews are the ONLY news outlets attempting to hold his feet anywhere NEAR the fire. (Jake Tapper of ABC News being one of the lone exceptions)

A lot has been made about "every administration wanting to INFLUENCE the media".

"Obama has a duty and obligation to the public to clarify lies and misconceptions about his polices for the American public. Not to allow Fox an interview, though is a mistake"

He's on the idiotbox fibbing everyday. He has all the time and media to clear up any "misconceptions" You may have. I have none. He is a blubbering fool, a shoddy salesman and even less skilled at organizing or turning a profit for this country.

More like crack...caffeine just makes you think faster, crack just makes you think you're thinking.

Addled BS like that is what got 'The Won' elected on the first pass, that it's making myrmidons prattle senseless BS like that is just a sign of the conviction on the left side of the political sphere as to how much they want to change this country into a socialist utopia.

I can't say that I watched the Sunday mourning shows, but judging from the almost absence from the blogs of the "War on FoxNews" today, I'd say that, at a minimum, the White House called a truce.

While there was a cost to the White House, I think there was an even bigger cost to the minions of Obama who ran with this, showing that obedience to "The Won" was more important than .. the 1st amendment.

Neo - "I can't say that I watched the Sunday mourning shows, but judging from the almost absence from the blogs of the "War on FoxNews" today, I'd say that, at a minimum, the White House called a truce.

"In an interview with MSNBC's Keith Olberman last night [Sunday], Nancy Pelosi announced that she would move to bring a vote to the floor of The House of Representatives as early as next week to ban Fox from covering Congress. "That Fox regularly grants access to Republican Congressman to spread their lies and propaganda on their airwaves is a violation of the public trust, and their continued desire to challenge such well documented facts as Global Warming, and the efficacy of single payer health insurance, proves that they are simply doing the work of the special interests. They should thus be stripped of their journalistic access in the halls of Congress," argued Pelosi."

In an interview with MSNBC's Keith Olberman last night [Sunday], Nancy Pelosi announced that she would move to bring a vote to the floor of The House of Representatives as early as next week to ban Fox from covering Congress...

Marc, you might actually want to read that link a little more carefully. Hint, pay attention to the dates. The Pelosi interview for instance doesn't occur for another two days.

For God's sake people, I am by no means a fan of Nancy Pelosi, but the quote is a fake. It was satirical article on Hugh Hewitt's site. Read the link and look at the dates. The quoted Pelosi interview is dated two days into the future.

Never get into a war of words with a broadcast news outlet. They are on the air 24/7 and have the ability to present facts that will make you look like the liar you are. Especially when they have video footage of you uttering a direct refutation of the claim that you didn't ever say that.

You'd have thought Dear Leader would have learned that from Hillary's experience with the "running under sniper fire" crap. The broadcast media would have buried that video clip deeper than whale crap if she'd been the media's choice rather than Obama.

As it was, she no sooner said it than they ran hotfoot to their video archives to prove Hillary's melodramatic assertion was crap. By broadcasting the clip they made her look ridiculous.

Obama loves to campaign, to make lofty speeches and empty promises. He finds time to run around the country campaigning, playing golf, attacking news agencies, but cannot find time to meet with his General. And the war waits, and waits, our soldeirs wonder, and wait, and Obama, he is too busy signing any and every new spending bill that congress passes, too busy taking over private business, and licking his chomps at having power over our health.